Photo GalleryLos Angeles, Calif. - The day began with a visit from a former #17 on the Fordham baseball team, and ended with the current #17 putting together an incredible effort at USC's Dedeaux Field. Unfortunately for the current Rams, a late ninth inning rally fell short as Fordham lost to #29 USC, 3-2.
The loss puts Fordham at 1-6 on the season, while USC stayed undefeated at 10-0.
After meeting the legendary Vin Scully (FCRH '49), who wore #17 during his two seasons on the Fordham baseball team in 1947 and 1948, the Rams' current #17
Brett Kennedy pitched an outstanding contest against the 29
th-ranked Trojans.
The game was a pitcher's duel between Kennedy and USC's Brent Wheatley over the first seven innings.
In the first four innings, each team had a runner reach third base, but neither the Rams nor the Trojans could plate a run.
In the third, USC had runners at the corners with one out, but Fordham catcher
Charles Galiano picked off the runner at first, followed by a ground out to ian Edmiston at third.
Matthew Kozuch had a pair of hits against USC on Friday. In the fourth, Fordham's
Matthew Kozuch led off with a single for his second hit of the game, followed by a sacrifice bunt by
Luke Stampfl. Wheatley then balked, putting Kozuch at third with
Ryan Mahoney at the plate. Mahoney though struck out, while Edmiston popped up to end the inning.
The Rams threatened again in the top of the seventh, when Mahoney led off with a double to the left center gap, and was sacrificed to third by Edmiston. Wheatley was once again up to the task to keep Fordham off the scoreboard, getting his ninth and tenth strikeout of the game to keep the score at 0-0.
The scoreless game would end in the eighth, as USC shortstop Reggie Southall hit a three-run home run off Kennedy to right, his first of the year.
The Rams managed to put together a ninth inning rally and get the tying run into scoring position. Fordham had runners at second and third with two outs, when
Jordan Gajdos beat out an infield single to score Stampfl from third.
Jason Lundy then chopped a single up the middle to pull Fordham within one, scoring Mahoney from third. However, USC closer Kyle Davis got
Joseph Runco to ground out to short to end the game.
The home run was the lone mistake by Kennedy (0-3), who was the hard luck loser, giving up only three hits over 7.1 innings of work, posting seven strikeouts to just two walks.
Greg Weissert pitched the final two-thirds of the eighth inning. At the plate, Kozuch had the lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Game two of the three-game series between the Rams and Trojans is set for 3:00 PM Eastern on Saturday (Noon PT).
